I am delighted to introduce this 2011 publication by the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI), th National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), and the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), which focus¬es on the lessons learned by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from the experiences of non-Chinese armed forces during the previous 30 years. The papers contained in this volume could not be more timely or valuable to policymakers and scholars alike.Throughout my career, and currently as the USPA¬COM Commander, I have consistently sought a solid and relevant understanding of China, and the PLA in particular. The importance of China stems not only from its current international role and its influence on the Asia-Pacific region in particular, but also because China's impact on global developments will likely continue to grow. One of our enduring imperatives, therefore, is to accurately survey China's experiences as a means to grasp its existing perceptions, motiva¬tions, and ambitions. More than ever, solid, evidence-based scholarship that evaluates what the PLA has learned from the use of force and conflict elsewhere in the world is needed to shed light on the prospects for its cooperation, or rivalry, with the international community. This jointly sponsored study by SSI, NBR, and USPACOM is an important contribution toward this end. The judgments associated with the PLA Con ference in October 2010, and this volume, provide unique, valuable insights on how the PLA has applied the lessons learned from others' military actions to its own strategic planning. For example, the PLA rapidly oriented itself to the importance of airpower, com¬mand and control, and precision munitions from the U.S. experience in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Of equal significance are the lessons learned by China's armed forces that now apply to its new non-traditional military roles; such as the best practices to address all-hazard disasters and common transnational threats of piracy and terrorism. The expertise and scholarly analysis provided by SSI and NBR inform the decisions that affect our op¬erations and approach throughout the Asia-Pacific region. I commend both organizations for their com¬mitment to excellence with the presentation of the annual PLA Conference and the resulting conference volumes. Chinese Lessons from Other People's Wars is an essential source for those seeking to understand China's strategic judgment and calculus, and will help prepare us to address the challenges and opportuni¬ties that lie ahead.